Claudia Severa

Possibly the earliest extant words written by a woman in Latin

Claudia Severa (fl. 97-105)[1] was a literate Roman woman, the wife of Aelius Brocchus, commander of an unidentified fort near Vindolanda fort in northern England.[2] She is known for a birthday invitation she sent around 100 AD to Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Flavius Cerialis, commander at Vindolanda. This invitation was discovered in the 1970s and is probably the best-known item of the Vindolanda Tablets.[3] The letter was written partly by a scribe and partly in Claudia's own hand.

Claudia Severa to her Lepidina greetings. On 11 September, sister, for the day of the celebration of my birthday, I give you a warm invitation to make sure that you come to us, to make the day more enjoyable for me by your arrival, if you are present . Give my greetings to your Cerialis. My Aelius and my little son send him their greetings. (2nd hand) I shall expect you, sister. Farewell, sister, my dearest soul, as I hope to prosper, and hail. (Back, 1st hand) To Sulpicia Lepidina, wife of Cerialis, from Severa." [4]

The Vindolanda Tablets also contain a fragment from another letter in Claudia's hand. These two letters are thought to be the oldest extant writing by a Roman woman found in Britain, or perhaps anywhere.[5]

Display of letter

The invitation was acquired in 1986 by the British Museum, where it holds registration number 1986,1001.64.[5] The museum has a selection of the Vindolanda Tablets on display, and loans some to the museum at Vindolanda.

References

  1. ↑ A. R. Birley, ‘Roman officers and their wives at Vindolanda (act. AD 97–105)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, May 2008; online edn, May 2010 accessed 8 Aug 2017
  2. ↑ Alan Bowman and David Thomas, Vindolanda: the Latin writing tablets, London: Society for the Promotion of Roman Studies, 1983, pp. 256
  3. ↑ Mount, Harry (21 July 2008). "Hadrian's soldiers writing home". The Daily Telegraph (www.telegraph.co.uk). Retrieved 23 February 2011. The real prize of the Vindolanda tablets, though, are the earliest surviving letters in a woman's hand written in this country. In one letter, Claudia Severa wrote to her sister, Sulpicia Lepidina, the wife of a Vindolanda bigwig - Flavius Cerialis, prefect of the Ninth Cohort of Batavians: 'Oh how much I want you at my birthday party. You'll make the day so much more fun. I do so hope you can make it. Goodbye, sister, my dearest soul.'
  4. ↑ "Vindolanda Tablet 291 Leaf No. 1 (front)". vindolanda.csad.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 2017-07-10.
  5. 1 2 "Search object details: Wood writing tablet with a party invitation written in ink, in two hands, from Claudia Severa to Lepidina.". British Museum. 24 January 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
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